Shen Cong

Biodata

Background / History

Film career and scandal

Shen Cong built a thriving film company and became a major director, approaching the standing described as “national master.” Industry rivals exploited his success by steering him toward an exorbitantly priced screenplay and a production costing hundreds of millions. The resulting film earned the lowest box office of its year. Inadequate oversight also allowed Japanese investors to insert their own agenda into the production, further damaging his reputation 161.

His next project, an uplifting patriotic film, struggled to attract investment and relied largely on funding from trusted friends. During this period, supporting actresses accused him of demanding sexual favors. Shen Cong later told Shen Jin and Yun Xiaoran that the allegations were false: an unknown actress had sought him out at his hotel, and paparazzi misrepresented their encounter as sexual misconduct 161 226.

The patriotic film eventually became a major box-office success. After another two or three successful films, Shen Cong gradually moved behind the scenes, although he never attained the title of national master. His former apprentices became prominent directors whose films could achieve box-office success 161 179.

Marriage and divorce

Shen Cong and Ning Yao each founded a company after marrying. His film company produced most of Shen Jin’s movies, while Ning Yao established the entertainment company later entrusted to their daughter. Their four children pursued successful careers: the eldest son became a frontline police officer, the second a renowned doctor, the third a company president, and Shen Jin an entertainment-company owner and pop star 127.

When public criticism spread to his family and Shen Jin was stalked, Shen Cong divorced Ning Yao to protect her and their children, giving Ning Yao most of his assets. He later reluctantly confirmed this motive after Yun Xiaoran deduced it 161 226.

The protective divorce did not explain their entire estrangement. Shen Cong remained evasive about why Ning Yao stayed apart from him after the scandal passed, while she insisted that additional, undisclosed grievances were involved. Neither remarried, and Shen Cong eventually acknowledged that he still loved her 127 227 243.

Appearance

• Build and age: A middle-aged man described as energetic, fit, and still in his prime 175.
• Face and bearing: An aging face, wrinkled eyes, and a commanding presence that conveys authority even when he is not angry 74 146 161.
• Eyes: Sharp and scrutinizing, particularly when assessing Yun Xiaoran 146 176.
• Clothing: Wears neat casual clothes, although Yun Xiaoran finds one of his later outfits awkwardly coordinated 146 182.

Personality

Shen Cong is fiercely protective of Shen Jin and quick to blame Yun Xiaoran when she appears unhappy. Learning that she married without informing him provokes intense anger, as does seeing her reddened eyes during a televised interview. His daughter can nevertheless soften his temper quickly, and he readily offers her money, gifts, and help 74 146 161.

His temper coexists with considerable composure. Despite his initial outburst over the marriage, he regains control within a short conversation. He also values sincerity over flattery: Yun Xiaoran’s admission that the couple sometimes disagrees impresses him more than an ingratiating answer would have 74 176.

Professionally decisive but socially reserved, Shen Cong often falls silent when faced with Ning Yao’s hostility. Pride prevents him from asking her about their daughter’s marriage, while fear of reliving past pain makes him resist reconciliation. His continued attachment surfaces through his reaction to family photographs, his admission of love, and his inability to delete Ning Yao’s disconnected number 73 177 178 226 227 244.

He appreciates demonstrated talent. Yun Xiaoran’s musical performance challenges his assumption that his daughter has chosen an attractive but dependent partner, helping him become more accepting of the relationship 181 182.

Abilities & Skills

Film Direction and Visual Composition

Shen Cong remains an accomplished filmmaker even after moving away from the forefront of the industry 161 225.

• Uses composition and color to compensate for weaknesses in scripts 225.
• Draws film storyboards himself and becomes deeply absorbed in production work 225.
• Is praised for decisive casting and scriptwriting, and for assigning actors suitable roles 178.

Mentorship

• Trained apprentices who became major directors across the country 179.
• Visits an apprentice’s nearly completed film to advise on the final production 182.

Musical Judgment

• Recognizes the emotional and cinematic value of Yun Xiaoran’s singing, considering the performance strong enough to justify admission to a youthful romance film 181.
• Notices the mismatch between Yun Xiaoran’s ability and his apparently modest achievements, leading him to suspect concealed accomplishments 181.

Relationships

• Shen Jin / Shen Muge — His youngest child and only daughter. He dotes on her, supports her career, and initially struggles to accept her attachment to Yun Xiaoran. Her distress over the broken family weighs heavily on him 73 74 181 182.
• Ning Yao — His former wife, called Ning Xian in Chapter 227. Their relationship remains estranged despite his continuing love and brief moments of shared warmth. The full cause of her refusal to reconcile remains undisclosed 181 227 243 244.
• Yun Xiaoran — His son-in-law. Shen Cong initially suspects a fake marriage and questions his manners and treatment of Shen Jin. Honest answers, cooking, and musical talent gradually earn his approval; Yun Xiaoran later helps uncover the protective motive behind the divorce 74 176 179 182 226.
• His three sons — Successful adult children whose careers span policing, medicine, and business. Shen Cong is depicted as far stricter toward them than toward Shen Jin 74 127.
• His apprentices — Filmmakers who continue seeking his professional guidance after establishing their own careers 179 182.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Assessing His Daughter’s Marriage

• Unexpected announcement: Asks Shen Jin when she will return home to marry, only to learn that she has already registered a marriage. He calls after receiving photographic evidence 73.
• First confrontation: Rebukes Yun Xiaoran for failing to visit his wife’s parents for over a month. Shen Jin takes responsibility, and Shen Cong agrees to let him join the family group chat while privately suspecting a fake marriage 74.
• Concealing Shen Jin’s identity: Helps preserve his daughter’s secret when Yun Xiaoran still believes she accompanies Shen Muge rather than being Shen Muge herself 118 161.
• Concern after Korea: Questions Yun Xiaoran about Shen Jin’s tears and announces a possible visit to Linshun City 146 161.

Linshun City Visit

• Arrives on the same flight as Ning Yao, although their visits were not coordinated. She keeps her distance, leaving him to suspect Shen Jin arranged the coincidence 171 175.
• Accepts Shen Jin’s intention to marry Yun Xiaoran but recommends postponing the wedding while her career is rising. Ning Yao argues for an earlier wedding 177.
• Warms to Yun Xiaoran during lunch and the subsequent musical performance. Before leaving for his apprentice’s film set, he offers shopping money and signals for Yun Xiaoran to comfort Shen Jin 179 181 182.

Attempts at Reconciliation

• Initially rejects Shen Jin and Yun Xiaoran’s proposal that he remarry Ning Yao. An old family photograph persuades him to discuss the scandal and admit that the divorce was intended to shield his family 225 226.
• Acknowledges his continuing love but does not commit to pursuing Ning Yao again 227.
• Tries her saved number and discovers it is disconnected. He keeps the contact, then calls Shen Jin and encourages her preparation for Singer 4202, unable to ask directly about her mother’s response to reconciliation 244 245.
• Remains the subject of Shen Jin and Yun Xiaoran’s reunion plan, which Shen Yi also wants to support despite doubts about the depth of their parents’ grievances 275.

Notable Quotes

“Because I'm old now. I don't want to go through all that again.” 226

“Those rumors about me demanding sexual favors from women, and all the rest, were false. Not one of them was true.” 226

Trivia

• Shen Jin’s stubbornness and quick temper are explicitly compared to her father’s 119.
• His quieter routine includes brewing tea, burning incense, and playing chess 179.
• He keeps Ning Yao’s phone contact saved as “My love”, even after discovering the number is no longer in service 244.